Control of heat conditions in glass furnaces



Dec. 27, 1932;

E. GE'NTlL v CONTROL OF HEAT GONDITIONSIN GLASS FURNACES Filed May 10,1930 Patented Dec. 2 7, 19321 PATENT OFFICE EUGENE GENTIL, OF PARIS,FRANCE CONTROL OF HEAT CONDITIONS IN GLASS FURNACES Application filedMay 10,

In the operation of glass melting furnaces, especially those feedingautomatic ware forming devices, either for hollow ware or for sheetware, difiiculties are experienced due to variations of heatingconditions within the furnace, arising from atmospheric conditions, i.e., from the direction and velocity of the wind. The wind, as it variesin direction and in intensity, creates different pres- 10 sureconditions at the opposite ends of the furnace and, as open ports arenecessary at such opposite ends for the introduction of batch and forthe removal of the melted glass, these variations in pressure cause theheat at different parts of the furnace to vary at different times. Asthe glass is being worked at a critical temperature and the formingmachines are set to work best at the viscosity corresponding to thistemperature, the pro- 29 duction is decreased.

My invention comprises a method and apparatus to overcome thesedifficulties, and the apparatus therefor includes chambers opposite theopenings in the furnace in which the pressures may be maintained uniformin spite of changes of atmospheric conditions, and it further consistsin the several features of construction hereinafter described andclaimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which corresponding parts aredesignated by corresponding marks of reference Figure 1 is adiagrammatic longitudinal section of an installation embodying myinvention; and

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views of a modified form thereof.

In all figures of the drawing, A represents a glass tank furnace havinga charging opening a and a working opening a at opposite ends thereof.

In Figures l and 2, the charging and working ends of the furnaceterminate in working chambers B and C.

In Figure 1, each chamber is provided with 1930. Serial No. 451,475.

a controllable air fan bc, and a controllable air damper b c, by whichthe pressure in such chambers may be maintained constant, eitherabsolutely or relatively to each other, in spite of atmosphericvariation.

In Figure 2, a reversible controllable fan 6 is placed in a portcommunicating between the two chambers, by which the same results may beobtained;

The forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 require that thechambers B and C, which are presumed to be large enough to permit theproper feeding of the batch, and the working of the delivered glass, bemore or less tight against the escape andentrance 60 of air, and, asthese chambers are necessarily of some size and present considerablewall area, this requires that fans of large capacity be provided. Incertain circumstances,

therefore, it will be desirable to use the construction shown in Figure3, in which a small chamber B'C is placed on the exterior of the feedingand delivery openings of the furnace, a part of the wall of such chamberhaving a restricted working opening therein, which, if desired, may beprovided with a curtain b c This curtain may be a sliding curtain or, ifdesired, may be a woven chain curtain, the idea, in any case, being thatop-- posite the port in question a chamber is provided having onlyenough wall opening to permit the introduction or removal of the batchor glass, and that, in this chamber, suitable pressure is maintained. Asshown in the drawing, the chambers in question 001m municate with fluesb 0, having dampers -c, by which the pressure "in such chambers due towinds may be controlled. Obviously, if desired, air fans," such as shownin Figure 1, may be substituted forthe dampers to give a more positivecontrol of pressure in the chambers inquestion. While a certain amountof air may escape through the working openings in the chamber, it willbe seen that, if sulficient air is introduced therein,

back pressures can be created in the chambers sufiicient to maintainpressures constant in spite of atmospheric variation.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure is:

The hereinbefore described method of controlling the heat conditions ina glass melting furnace having ports therein, which includes maintainingconstant relative air pressures outside of said ports in spite ofvariation in atmospheric conditions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name. i

EUGENE GENTIL.

